Of colombia



(No ModelQ) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

F. P. FLETCHER. 1

BREECH MEGHANISM FOR ORDNANGB.

No. 541,042. q

Patented June 1.1, 1895.

Illlll (No Model.)

PoR NANGB.

No. 541,042. Y

Y 3 She eeeeeeeee 3. F. F. FLETGH BRBBGH MBGHANIS-M Patented June 11, 1895;

ummmum ceive interchangeable cases containing reparatus, while permanently xed to tlie'rear of fermeture.

' swung clear of the breechfopening; Fig. 4 is `breech, and the object of my invention is to tion of -my invention as applied to a breech- UNITED' STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

FRANK r. FLETCHER, or wsHtNe'rommsrmor or coLnMBIA,.AssIeNoR n 'ro ALBERT oRDWAY, oF SAME PLACE.

BREEpCH .M ECHANISM FOR ORDNANCE..

- SPEIFICATION forming part of Letters Patzent No. 541,042,1iated`'1me 11, 18.95.

Application lerLOctohcr 24,1892.

To a.l wh.om it may concern.:

Be it known that -L FRANK F. FLErCHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washiugton, in the District of Columbia., have invented `new and useful Improvements in Breech-Operating Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

.My invention relates to breech loading ordnance of the class wherein a breech plug of conical or cylindrical form having interrupted screw threads is employed for .closing the provide .means for operating the screw plug, the electric or percussion firing mechanism and for extracting and ejectiugtbe cartridge case; and my invention consists in '-a Vlever pivoted to one side of the gun and terminating atv one extremity in a toothed sector-.one portionof which sector revolves -the breech plug by engaging with a worin rack thereon, whereuponthe other portion withdraws it byengaging with the screw threads of the breech' plug or with a suitable rack thereon. Simultaneousl y with the withdrawal of 4the plug the exterior edge of the lever arm operates as a cam surface toactuate a combined extractor and ejector loyer. I also provide the breech plug with a central bore or chamber adapted to respectively electrical or mechanicalvring apof the gun is au attachment 'adapted to trip the firing pin or to complete the electrical circuit.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention, Figure 1 -is a rear elevaloading gun having the slotted-screw system Fig. 2 is a horizontal section same,.s howing the screw-plug withdrawn and a side elevation, partly in section, on the line 4 -t of Fig. 3, showing the breech-plug with the breech omitted andthe ring shown in dotted lines. Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the permanent attacbment,.showing the electrical and mechanical connections of' the tirtion shown in Fig. 3.

ing devices. Figs. 6, 7, vand 8' are details of the ringpin mechanism; and Fig. 9 is a plan sani it... 449,713. et man.)

view of my invention asapplied to a gnu having a conical" breech-plug, showing the plug swung clear ot the breech-opening without the necessity ot irst withdrawing it'. It also shows in cross-section the electrical firing device. .A is the breech of the gun. i .B is the screw plug having the screw thread b'. and is vsupported by and capable of. partial rotation and withdrawal in ,the carrier. ring C which is free to swing in and out upon its hinge piu, D by which -it is secured to the breech of the gun A.

E is a circular worm rack attached to the periphery of the screw plug B near its head and immediatelyy under the carriage ring C which latter iscut away at c forming a reces to receive the projecting teeth e .of the rack and of snlcient length to permit of the rotation of the .screw plug to unlock it from the breech. at an angle between a yline parallel to the ytransverse axis of the plug and a line at. right'.V

angles to it. See Fig. 4. v

F is a lever pivoted on the hinge pin D and carries a toothed arc or sector F'provided The teeth e on this rack are inclined with the worm teeth f and. the cog teeth f The sector end F of 'the lever F turns in a. slot c' in the, carrier ring C in such wise that when the `screw plugB' is locked, its teeth f which have the same inclination with the A teeth eci the screw plug rackE engagetherewith and revolve the screw plug'll until the screw threads in the plug are opposite the vblank spaces in thescrew box of the breech,

in the position for withdrawirig. At this point. the cog. teeth f' on the sector F' engage with the screw thread of'the plug and the further turning of the lever F. withdraws the screw plug within the carrier ring C into. the posi- S (Figs. l'and 3) is a latch bolt seated in a transverse chamber in the carrier ring C and having'a coiled spring s which tends to press it into-engagement with the groove s' in the cylindrical face of the screw plug B. S2 is a recess in the gum-breech which registers with the bolt S and into which the boltenterswhile resting in the slot s' of the plug B, locking the carrier ring C to the gun-breech. On

turning the screw plug within the carrier ring C and then withdrawing itl therefrom, the latch bolt S traveling in the grooves' locks the carrier ring to the gun-body, until the screw plug has been withdrawnv sufciently to ttllow it to revolve with the carrrier ring to operi the breech when the head of the l tch bolt S` registers with the beveledA sco e or socket siat the end of the groove s in the cylindrical 'side of the screw plug, into which it is thrust by the tension ot the spring s, un

locking the carrier ring from the gun-body` clear ofthe breech by the further movementJ` of the lever F.-

G is the extractor and ejector lever pivoted at ll in a chamber in the breech and having the extremity g which takes under the rim of the cartridge case I while the arm g is acted upon by the cam or curved suriacelvofV the lever F when the lever is thrown back to swing ont 'the plug after it has been withdrawn. The form of the cam surface is s'uch that it first imparts to the lever G a slow motion with great power to extract the cartridge case and then a rapid motion to eject it.

In order to fire the gun either by electricity or by a firingxpin I- provide the' screw -plug .B with a central chamber b adapted to receive a removable case containing the mechanical device, Figs. 1, 2, and v6A to yS lor the electrical device, Fig. 9.

For tiring by electricity I provide a 4remov-4 able tubular case J screw threaded at j .in or-v der to secure it in the chamber bof the screw plugand having a tubular right angled prolongation J extending across the back of the plug as' shownin Fig. 9.

K is an electric wire surrounded by tinsnlat ing material. At K and 7c the wire is in the form of a helical spring so as to press out the insulated points k2 k3. The contact k2 presses against the electric primer in the, cartridge case and the contact k3 against the insulated wire K attached to the binding screw L to which is so secured `one terminal of a battery, the ther terminal of which is attached to the gub through the firing key, see Fig. 9,

or is otherwise in metallic circuit therewith,

to complete the circuit to theprimer in the cartridge case. l

The insulated wire K' and its binding screw L are carried in a hollow sleeve M havlng the trigger m and lever m' for' tiring the percussion device, as hereinafter described and rocking in the tubular cse N permanently attached to thebreech o't the gun in position to-connect with either tiring devic after the plug has been locked. y

For firing by percussion I provide'a case O O interchangeable with the electric tiring case J J and secured in the axis of the screw plug B in the'same way. See Figs. 2 and 5 to 8.'

B 'is the firing pin or striker and p thering spring.

p' is a' shoulder secured to the end of the tiring pin by which it is drawn back and the spring compressed.

q is a lever acting against the shoulder p' and secured to the shaft Q which rocks in its bearings in the yextension O' ofthe case O. On the other end of the shaft Q is acatch lever q which engages one end of the cocking lever R pivoted to the end ofthe case. Against the other arm4 of the cocking lever R bears -the extremity ot' theA lever m forming. part of the permanent attachment N, as already described. f

S" is a small scoregcut iu the breech face of the gun A so as to permit the lower end of the cocking lever R to enter it when the shaft Q is turned either in cocking or releasing the firing pini. The position 'of the score in the breech face of the gun is such that the c'ocking lever R can enter it only when the plug is in the firing position. At all other posi` -tions the-lever R bears against the breech face and the shaft. Q cannot turn.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The screw plug B being in the position for 'firing the gun, Figs. 1 and 2, the hand lever F is thrown in with its sector teeth in engagement'with the rst teeth on the .plug sector and the small endA g of. the extractor and ejector lever G is under the headvof the cartridge case. against its springp in which position it is held by theengagement of the lever q' over the end of the cocking lever R. On pulling the lanyard attached to the trigger m .the sleeve M turns, depresses the lower extremity of the tripping lever m' in the recessSo of the breech, disengages the cocking lever R from.

the lever q permitting the shaft Q to rotate andthe tiring pin P to plunge forward with the force of the rngspring p. To remove the screw' plug B preparatory toreloading the hand ,lever F is revolved on the hinge boit D and the worm teeth f on its sector F gear with the teeth e on the screw 'plug B revolve 'lhe ,tiring pin P is pressed back- IOC IIC

ing the screw plugin its carrier riugC to thel withdrawing positiou,lat which point it is held both by the impinging ofits rack E- C against the end of-the recess c andl'hy the number of teeth on the rack and sector. The withdrawing teeth f of the sector F' new engage withl the screw thread b ot'` the plug B and a continued mo'vement of the lever F G and forces its arm g to extract and eject the cartridge case I. The tiring pinP is also is in-the recess S and when the screw plug` A begins to unlock impinges against the side of the recess causing it to turn. At the sametime its other arm against which rests the extremity of the lever q 'forces back the lever q', causing the shaft'Q to t-uru and draw back the Afiring pin P by means of lever q and the pi'n head p against the pressure'ot' the'springp until finally the arm of the c0cking lever R. engages with the catch at the extremity of -the lever q and then retains the pin I in the tiring position. It is evident that d uring the operation of turning thescrew plug 'l the cockingl'evel-R cannot be tripped,

because its lower -arm impinge's against the breech face of the gun until it arrives opposite the recess SUat' which timethe screw plug f is in the tiring position.

To close the breech openingthe movement v of the leverfF is reversed,th e screw-plug being first swung opposite the opening, then advanced in its carrier ring and finally revolved and lockedin place.

In Fig. 91 have shown my invention applied to a conical screw plug B in which the cog teeth f on the sectorleverF are omitted and the plug is swung clear after being unlocked. In this instance the plnghas vno axialmotion in the carrier ring C. j

, In Figs. l, 7, and 8 I have shown the me chanical firing device sur )len/rented by a trigger p2 attached directlyklto-tbe firing p'in P and projectingthrough aslot o in the case O of sullicient length to permit of vfiring and cooking the pin.

Among the various advrmtages prcsentet a lplug and ejector of. suitable construction,

while the lever perforins the4 additional office of swinging the carrier ring upon' its pivot both in opening and closing the breech.

lhe removable tiring attachment mounted in the brcechplug permits of the entire removal of the saine from the breech-plug in one piece, and its immediate substitution by a new one without the dismountng of one or more parts ofthe tiring device, and this is the scctorlever which I have invented; and am.

enabled to replace with the greatcstrapidity andsimplicity the damaged tiring device in any breech-block provided with my removable firing attachment. v drawn back and locked in the tiring posi- I do not limitl myself to the particular lt'ind of extractor and ejector shown and described yin my drawings and specification, provided always that it be an extractor and ejectorV adapted to be actuated by a cam nponthe' sectorof my pivotedlever. Neitherdolliluit. myself to any particular kind of removable .tiring attachment;` mountedv in the breechplug, as it' may be either mechanical or electrical, as I have shown, provided always that the entire firing device mounted in' the breech luc', Vbe removable as one icce- -i'rres icctive of the particular-class of fermeture to which 'the breech-plug may belong.-

I have shown the sector teeth of the levcr as engaging with the screw threads ot the breech plug, but I do not limit myself to-thisparticular form of racl. j

It is also evident that the racks may either be cast withorotherwisc secured to thescrcw plug;

' Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to securo by Letters Patent, is'- .l. In a breech loading ted screw system of fermeture, the combina tion with a pivoted lever having a cam snrface, of a lever pivoted in a recess in the breech of Ythegun and havingone arm adapted to engage with the rim of the cartridge and the other arm to bear directly against. the lcver cam surface as described.

T2. In a breech loadingg'nn having the slot.-

ted screw system of fermeture, the combina-.

tion of a pivoted extractor andejector-levcr having one arm adapted tov engage with the rim of the cartridge case, a slotted sci-ew plug having a toothed rack, -and a pivoted lever gun having the slot` having a toothed arc'engaging directlywith the rack on the plug and a cam surface engaging directly with the free arm of the exv tractor and ejector lever, as described'.

In a breech loading gun having the slotted screw system of fermeture, the combina-A tion of a pivoted extractor and ejector lever` a slotted screw` plug having a peripheral toothed rack, a-hinged carrier and avpivotetl leverhaving a toothed arc engaging directly with 4the rack on the plug and a cam surface engaging directly with the free arm of the'cxj tractor and ejector lever, as described.

4. In a breech loading gun naving the slotted screw system of fermeture, the combination, of a pivoted extractor' and ejector lever,

a slotted screw plug having` a peripheral and a` longitudinal rack, a hinged carrier' and a pivoted-leverh-aving a toothed sector 'engaging directly with the rackson the plug and a cam surface engaging directly with thcextructor and ejector level', as described.

5. The combination with a breech loading.

gun, of the slotted screw plug having the' -worm -rac'k E and the screw thread b', the

hinged carrier ring C recessed at. c and slotworm raekE andthe screw thread b', the

h/inged carrier ring C recessed and slotted as 'dcscribcd,t'-he =pivoted l'ovexpl having the cam surface F2 and the sector F- with the worm teethfand the cog teeth f', and the lever G pivoted .at H and having the arm g engaging,

` with thelever and the arm g engaging with the cartridge shell substantiall',`5` as' described.

7. The combination with a breech loading -gun having the slotted screw system 'of fermeture, of the screw plug having racks as described, and an axial chamber containing a removable tiring case, said firing case containingfiring mechanism a permanent attachment securedto the gun breech adapted to register with and actuate the vtiring meclbausm when the screw plug is-locked, and a pivcted lever havinga toothed arc to actnate the screw plug, substantially as described.

' 8, The combination with a breech loading gun having the slottedv screw system offerxneture, ofthe screw plug having the axial 'chamber `containing a removable case, said case containing firing mechanism, and a permanent attachment adapted te register-with and actuate the tiring mechanism, when the plug is locked,.as described.

9.' The combination with a breech loading` gun having the slotted screw system of ter-v meture of the screw-plug having an axial chamber, arci-:lovable case located in said chamber, a tiri-ng pin and cooking mechanism automatically. cocked bythe rotation of the screw-plug and contained within said case, and aipermanent 'attachment adapted to register with and trip the cooking mechanism, when the screw-"plint isloeked, substantially as described. A l

10. The combination with a breech loading gun havingthe slotted screw system of t'ermeture ,of the screw-plug having an axial chamber, a removable case, loeated in said chamber and a tiring pin and cooking mechg anism, automatically cocked by the rotation ofthe screw plug and contained within said case, substantially as described.

11. In a breech loading gun having a score S0 in the breech face of the gun, the combination with the slotted screw plug B having the axial chamber b of the .removable case O fO Ahaving the section O located in said chamber and the section O atjright angles thereto, across the face of the'plng'r; the. tiring pin 'P locatedin said case section O, and having the shoulder p', the firing piu spring in, the cooking shaft Q. located in the case section O, and having at one extremity the lever q in engagement with the shoulderp of the tiring pin, and at the'other extremi'tythe 'catch lever q' and the cooking lever R pivoted to the end of the case O and having one ,armbearing against the catch lever q', substantially as described.

12. In a breech loading gun having a score S0 and the tripping attachment, consisting of the tubularcase N and the hollow sleeve M having the trigger m and lever m' at-either extremity, both located on the breech face of .the,gunfthecombination with the slotted screw plug B having the axial chamber b of the removable case O O' located as described,

the firing pin P located in said case section O, and having the shoulderp' and the tiring pin spring p, the cooking shaft Q located iu said section case O `and having Vat one ex-v tremity the lever q in engagement with the shoulder p of the firing pin,and at the other extremity the catch lever q andthe cooking lever R pivoted to the end of the case O' and the score S0 and the tripping attachment iu the breech face, when the plug islocked,"sub 'stantially as described.

13. The combination with a gun having the slotted screw. system lof fermeture, of the breechlplug, a removable firing device in thc` having one arm bearing against the catch. lever q and the other arm registering witlf ceV whichactuates the cartridge extractor, subi stantially as described.

l5. In' 'a breech mechanism ot the slotted screw system, the combination with a breech block provided withserew threads thereon for locking the same in the gun, and worm threads in rear of said screw threads, of a rack provided with teeth toengage in saidv llo worm, and other teeth to engage in said screw threads; and a hand lever pivote'd in the gun and integral with said rack, substantially as described.

1'6. In a breech mechanism of the slotted screw system,the combinationwith u breech plug provided with screw threads thereon for locking the same in the grimaud worm threads in rear of said'screw threads;'of a segmental .rack pivoted to the gun and provided with teeth to engage in said worm and other teeth to engage in said screw threads,and a hand lever rigidly connected to said rack, substantially as described. In ltestimony whereof my hand in the witnesses.

I have hereunto set presenceof two subscribing FRANK F. FLETCHER.

Witnesses W ooDBURfY Lowaav,` ARMAT STODDART. 

